How to go cashless with only your phone

This article was produced in partnership with Curatedition.

When modern life is as busy as it gets, decluttering becomes an art.

Gone are the days when you needed a large tote to stash all your things: cash, cards, cheque book, diary, phone, camera, keys… In this digital age, you can confidently head out with just your smartphone (and maybe a favourite lippie) in your pocket. After all, your mobile device can do just about anything, be it booking a cab, tracking your workout, counting calories, snapping selfies, or giving you directions to the nearest cafe. But when it comes to banking and handling money matters, you may not be making the most of your gadget. We show you the cool things you probably didn’t know your phone can do.

Cashless convenience

Whether you’re buying a meal at the food court, splitting the cost of a gift with a friend or clearing a monthly bill, your phone can make these digital payments a breeze. Why wait till you get home to do your banking on the computer?

Scan and pay island-wide

Running out of cash used to be a problem, but not anymore. With your smartphone, you don’t have to hunt down an ATM or dig for loose change to buy a cup of coffee. Today, more and more merchants and hawker stalls around Singapore accept digital payments so you can pay for your purchase using your device.

Just scan the merchant’s QR code using a mobile banking app like digibank or PayLah! enter the amount to pay, and you’re done. Or, if you’re on a cab when you realise you’ve forgotten your wallet, there’s no need to turn back. You can pay for your Comfort or CityCab taxi ride with the same apps.

Send and receive money with just a mobile number

Going Dutch on a date? We bet you’d rather spend more time getting to know each other than exchanging bank details. Now you can make instant money transfers on your smartphone, and not have to worry about getting that long string of digits right. To send money, all you need is the recipient’s mobile number or NRIC/FIN that has been registered for PayNow.

And if you’re headed for a party and still don’t know what to get for your host, you won’t go wrong with the gift of a virtual red packet. When you send an eAngbao via PayLah! your recipient will also receive a visual of a red packet. How’s that for cute and eco-friendly?

Request for funds

When dining out with a large group of friends, it’s common practice for one person to foot the bill first, and split it with everyone later. Your turn this time? Ask your pals to pay you their share using PayLah! To make it simpler for them, the app can generate a QR code or payment link that can be shared via a text or Whatsapp message.

More play, less work

With your supercharged lifestyle, what you crave is more me-time to do all the things that bring you joy.

Save big on your lifestyle

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or social butterfly who loves partying and dining out, you probably know you can save quite a lot of money by using the right credit cards to earn you reward points or cash-back benefits. If you’ve been putting off applying for a new card because of the hassle involved, now you have no more excuse. Yes, you can simply do it on your smartphone – you won’t even need to open a fresh page on your internet browser.

TGIF! Time to catch the latest blockbuster on the big screen with your pals. With your phone, you can skip the box office queue, and get discounts off tickets and snack combos at Golden Village.

Get your food fast

It’s lunchtime, and your tummy is grumbling. Luckily, you won’t have to endure the long lines at your go-to restaurant or café. Instead, whip your phone out and order your food on the eatery’s app. You probably can squeeze in a quick errand before your food is ready for collection.

Fast, easy and secure

When it comes to handling “personal admin” like paying bills and buying insurance, you’d want the transactions done swiftly and securely. Smartphone apps with enhanced security features make this possible. Don’t forget to follow these security tips to protect yourself too.

Insure yourself just before you travel

With all the pre-trip planning and packing you have to do before a holiday, buying insurance might have slipped your mind until the very last minute. Don’t panic; you can purchase a travel insurance plan just before your departure with a few quick taps on the phone. It’d only take minutes.

Pay bills anytime, anywhere

If you tend to forget your bills, clearing them as soon as you get them will help you stay on top of the task and avoid incurring unnecessary interest charges. Use your smartphone to settle your phone bills, town council fees, insurance premiums, and more even as you’re on the move.

Here’s a hack: Did you know you can simply scan the barcode of the bill* or the face of your credit card (for credit card bills) with your mobile to capture the billing details instead of keying them in? What’s more, you won’t need the physical token when completing simple transactions on your mobile, like checking the account balance, with the enhanced digital token.